Haru sat in his desk quietly, holding a pencil in one hand and propping his head up with the other to look out the window. The sun was shining radiantly in a clear blue sky, making everything look happy and beautiful. It seemed to be a great way to begin summer recess.

"Okay everyone, I'll see you after summer!" Amakata-sensei announced with a bright smile. Haru sighed softly and gathered his things, standing up and glancing over to his best friend who sat beside him. The brunette smiled up at Haru and stood, having to look down slightly now to maintain eye contact.

"Let's go find Nagisa and Rei. We can all go hang out for our first afternoon of recess!" Makoto suggested jovially, as always. Haru did not say anything, but simply began walking on Makoto's right like always. It wasn't unusual for Haru to be so quiet, but Makoto felt a bit of tenseness. "Are you alright, Haru?" He asked in his motherly way. That was something Haru secretly appreciated; having Makoto to take care of him.

"I'm fine." The raven haired boy replied. Makoto sighed and walked a bit closer to Haru, close enough for their shoulders to brush together every now and again.

/

Nagisa was the first person the pair saw as they exited the school. The blond sprinted over to them from where he and Rei had been waiting under a tree, and immediately ran into Haru with a full-force hug.

"Haru-chaaaan! Now we can all spend time together!" He exclaimed unnecessarily loudly. Makoto looked in concern as Haru winced at the hug.

"Don't add the -chan, Nagisa." Haru answered, squirming his way out of Nagisa's grip. The blond then latched onto Makoto, with a loud "Mako-chaaan!" and laughed gleefully. Makoto laughed softly and returned the younger boy's hug before releasing him. The three walked-well Nagisa more accurately pranced- over to Rei and sat with him in the soft grass. The tree's shadow loomed coolly over them, taking the edge off the heat of the summer.

"So what're we going to do this summer?" Rei asked, adjusting his red framed glasses on his nose. To everyone's surprised, Haru spoke up.

"I'm going away for a month."

"What?!" The three other swimmers exclaimed. Haru's face didn't change; it remained stoic and still.

"Where are you going Haru-chan?" Nagisa demanded, lower lip pushed out in a childish pout.

"Away." The freestyle swimmer replied flatly.

"Haruka-senpai, it's hardly fair to keep this from us. We're a team, and teams should support and trust each other." Rei stated matter-of-factly. Makoto noticed that Haru suddenly seemed very tired, and very unwilling to speak. Haru turned his head away a bit, glancing off in the direction of the pool and not saying a word.

"Haru-chan that's not fair!" Nagisa whimpered, reaching out and tugging on Haru's sleeve. Makoto noticed something change in Haru's expression. His straight face faltered a bit and his eyes grew the slightest bit misty, but seemed that only Makoto had noticed.

"Nagisa, leave it alone for now. Haru-chan will tell us when he's ready to. Right?" He turned toward Haru, a comforting smile on his face. The quieter boy gave a curt nod and gently tugged his arm away from Nagisa. The tiredness crept back into his features, and it was clear to the backstroke swimmer that Haru was trying to hide it.

"Well, at least tell us when you're leaving?" Rei asked, hoping to gain at least a small piece of information.

"Tomorrow morning." The group grew silent and Haru almost began to feel uncomfortable. Feeling as if the silence was a cue to leave, Haru picked up his bag and stood up. Glancing down briefly at Makoto, Haru turned and began to walk off toward his home.

"Haru, wait!" Makoto called after hum, scrambling up with his stuff and running after haru. "I'll call you guys later!" He yelled over his shoulder to the blond and blue haired boys. Nagisa and Rei looked at each other, confusion and worry written across their faces.

"Rei-chan?"

"What, Nagisa?" Rei adjusted his glasses again out of habit.

"Is spying on someone illegal?" Nagisa's magenta eyes were shining with mischief, and he was starting to smile. Rei's brow furrowed and he thought for a moment.

"Well, technically no." He answered, and as soon as he finished his sentence he was being hauled to his feet.

"Then we're going to spy on Haru-chan!" He announced, a hand on his hip and fist raised excitedly in the air. Rei groaned and rubbed his temples. It was going to be a very long afternoon.

/

Makoto caught up to Haru, falling in step beside him.

"Haru?" He asked. The black haired boy didn't reply, but Makoto knew he was listening. "Why are you going away?" The brunette asked, looking down at his best friend. Haru turned his gaze up to Makoto, blue eyes guarded beyond anything Makoto had ever seen in him.

"I just...need to go away." He answered shortly, shifting his eyes back to the path before them. Haru felt his arms and sides beginning to ache, and he knew what was happening beneath his blazer. His bag thumped against his side by accident, making pain crawl through his body. His mask however, did not change. It had failed him once today, and he would not let Makoto see his pain.

"But Haru, why can't you tell us where you're going? Why can't you tell me?" Makoto asked, almost begging. He reached down and laced his fingers through Haru's. A familiar feeling that Haru always liked. Makoto's hand was strong and warm, and always welcome in Haru's. It wasn't odd either, as they'd held hands since they were children. Makoto did it as a comforting gesture, and Haru as a protective one.

"Mako," Haru stopped as the reached the steps to his house. "Please, just trust me." All of Haru's will to keep himself composed had been chipping away since Makoto took his hand. His face fell, looking exhausted and slightly pained. His beautiful blue eyes dulling, and his hands beginning to shake a bit.

"Haru..." Makoto reached down to take Haru's other hand, gently holding them both as he looked down at this new, vulnerable Haru.

"Promise me that you'll just trust me." Haru said, his voice even sounding tired. Makoto argued with himself inwardly.

But I don't know where you're going Haru! You're my best friend...my everything. So I should trust you. But why can't you tell me? Makoto nodded then, agreeing to Haru's promise. The brunette closed his eyes for a moment to keep all of his questions at bay. And as he did, he felt something soft touch his lips. Opening his eyes, he saw that Haru had gone up on his toes, and gently kissed Makoto. Surprise and shock rang through Makoto's mind, his emerald eyes going wide. Haru pulled away, his serious face making a return.

"Thank you, Mako." He said before turning and walking briskly up the stairs to his house.

What the...what I'm the world was that..? Makoto's cheeks were burning a bright red as his looked after Haru, wondering why he had just kissed him.

But...it felt right...

/

Haru quickly went into his house, closing the door to separate himself from the events that just went on. He'd loved Makoto since they were little, but until recently he always thought it was a brotherly love. Makoto didn't know where Haru was going, and Haru wasn't sure he would be back. He had to make sure Makoto saw how much he meant to the freestyle swimmer, and if that would be Haru's last memory of him, then that was fine.

Sighing and making his way to the bathroom, Haru stripped down with expert speed and turned the water on for a bath, steam rising from the water. Turning to look I'm the mirror, he was dark bruises on his arms and sides where Nagisa had hugged him. He then inspected the hand that Makoto had been holding, and saw yellowish bruises forming between his fingers. Balling his hands into fists, Haru climbed into the tub and turned off the water. Tomorrow would begin his month long leave. He would be spending four weeks in a white room, with unfamiliar people, sticking him with all sorts of needles. He would be spending a month in the hospital. Haru would start his treatment tomorrow for leukemia.